Can a revised Johnson County Justice Center plan win voter approval?
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Johnson County plans to take a scaled-down version of a criminal justice center to voters in May.
The county supervisors on Wednesday said they tentatively are planning on seeking a $43.5 million bond issue to pay for a $46.2 million project on May 7. Those numbers are down from a $46.8 million bond and a $48.1 million project that failed to win voter approval in November.
The changes are an attempt to get the necessary voter support for a project that’s been discussed for a decade. The previous version of the justice center garnered 56 percent of the vote in November, but it needed 60 percent to pass.
“I think we’ve come up with the best idea we can,” Supervisor Pat Harney said.
Does the revised justice center plan stand a better chance of gaining voter approval?
Moneys short everywhere and getting shorter! Live with what ya got!
The answer was NO. and then NO AGAIN. It will be NO AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Are you going to keep this on the ballot every 6 months until you spoiled children get your way?
The County has failed to address the over enforcement and prosecution of nonsense laws in this county. Attempting to send every student away with a degree and a criminal record is not responsible law enforcement. The increased space is for the Sheriff to rent out and profit from holding prisoners from other counties. The claim that this jail is overcrowded is a problem caused and invented by the Sheriff to justify his greed.
Law enforcement is not a profit making enterprise. The Sheriff has the lawful authority to turn away any overflow- and refuses to do so. If you continue to ignore the underlying problem – zealot cops and irresponsible prosecutors- you will never get approval.
It is not the money that is at issue – but the spoiled children with badges and law degree’s that are the problem.
Perry Hagen’s advice should be accompanied by a pledge to never ever not ever complain about deals struck by Johnson County’s attorney to plea bargain charges down.
Johnson County is currently teetering on the edge of a law suit based on overcrowding, denial of due process, and the very real potential for a security disaster at the Court House. In addition, there’s the high cost of transporting and housing Johnson County’s inmates in other counties.
John Roman needs to stop getting his information from the local conspiracy theory grapevine. As for his contention that the Sheriff has the authority to all on his own and without permission from a judge turn away prisoners, oh really.